GEORGE TOWN, Nov. 8 -- State exco Phee Boon Poh (DAP - Sungai Puyu) admitted that reclamation invariably affected the environment.

However, he said such projects should not be viewed in isolation.

"We must not only take into consideration factors by just looking at one sector, we have to look at the overall picture for example, on reducing the carbon footprint in Penang," he told reporters during a break at the state legislative assembly.

He claimed the creation of three islands off the southern coast of the Penang island would serve to reverse the forced rural-urban migration that made malls, offices, restaurants and hotels centre in the city.

He said such centralisation increased congestion and carbon emissions.

"If we develop the ...